Why does dioxin cause cancer

And a new study, published in the journal Breast Cancer Research , looks at dioxins in our diet and breast cancer risk. So what does this latest study add to the mix? Dioxins are mainly released from certain industrial processes, and from burning waste — especially some types of plastic, like PVC.

But over recent decades the amount of TCDD produced has fallen rapidly. Some of them have looked at animals given very high doses of dioxins, well above anything the general public would be exposed to. Other research has looked at groups of people whose jobs expose them to very high levels of dioxins. But these jobs often expose people to other chemicals which can increase the risk of cancer too.

So teasing apart the role of individual chemicals is hard. What these studies do tell us is that in principal, certain dioxins can cause cancer — but principal and practice can differ. And the levels of dioxins that most people would be exposed to are far smaller than the levels used in this type of research. For most people, the main source of exposure to dioxins is through food and drink.

Dioxins are a family of compounds that share distinct chemical structures and characteristics. Numerous dioxin-like compounds have been identified that are considered to have significant toxicity and can cause disease. The singular term dioxin refers to the most toxic compound, TCDD. NIEHS researchers continue to explore the detailed chemical pathway through which dioxin damages the body, but scientists are now confident that the first step takes place when dioxin binds to an intracellular protein known as the aryl hydrocarbon receptor AhR.

When that happens, the AhR can alter the expression, or function, of certain genes. The resulting cellular imbalance leads to a disruption in normal cell function and ultimately adverse health effects. About compounds in the environment act on the body through the AhR receptor. Public health officials around the world are concerned about the combined effects of multiple chemicals that activate the AhR, and are developing health standards that take into account the fact that people are exposed to mixtures of DLCs, not just one at a time.

The public health threats posed by dioxins were highlighted dramatically in the public consciousness in the late s and early s. Newspapers and television broadcasts were full of stories about ailing veterans who had been exposed to dioxins through Agent Orange, an herbicide and defoliant used in the Vietnam War.

Section of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of EPCRA requires certain facilities manufacturing, processing or otherwise using listed chemicals to report their environmental releases of such chemicals annually.

The list of reportable chemicals, known as the EPCRA section list and also referred to as the Toxics Release Inventory, or TRI list, was originally identified in the statute and was comprised of more than individual chemicals and 20 chemical categories. Skip to main content. Related Topics: Dioxin. Contact Us. Dioxin Key Facts Dioxins are called persistent organic pollutants POPs , meaning they take a long time to break down once they are in the environment.

Dioxins are found throughout the world in the environment , and they accumulate in food chain s , concentrating mainly in the fatty tissue of animals. What is Dioxin? Applicable Laws Research Timeline. Figure 1: Dioxin chemical structures. Most Toxic Dioxin. PRGs are designed to protect human health and the environment comply with all applicable, relevant and appropriate regulations ARARs for all exposure pathways being addressed. Hazardous Air Pollutants for Hazardous Waste Combustors and Clean Air Act The rule established national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants like dioxins for sources that burn hazardous waste.

Toxic Substances Control Act TSCA Under TSCA section 8 e , any person who manufactures including imports , processes, or distributes in commerce a chemical substance including, generally, dioxin or mixture and who obtains information which reasonably supports the conclusion that such substance or mixture presents a substantial risk of injury to health or the environment to immediately inform EPA, except where EPA has been adequately informed of such information.

Updated [1] Schecter, Arnold et al. Topics: Glossary of Exposures. Types: Article. Take Action Donate. Dioxins At a Glance Dioxins are toxic byproducts of industrial incineration, combustion and chemical manufacturing.